Raise the tents: Preparations begin for SEMO District Fair

With the start of September comes the familiar buzz of activity around Arena Park that signals the coming of the SEMO District Fair.

Tents are going up this week, and volunteers will be at the fairgrounds Saturday to finish the majority of the work before the fair begins Sept. 12.

"So we'll have about 130 volunteers on Saturday and get the fence up, those kinds of things ... and we'll get the Arena Building set up, and we'll go from there," said Pete Poe, who's been a key organizer of the fair for more than 30 years.

This year's fairgoers may notice some of the upgrades finished in the offseason, such as new paint jobs around the grandstand or new lights in and around the parking area west of the East Rodney Drive and Hawthorne Road intersection. Perhaps the most eye-catching upgrades are the new trams.

Two new, shiny silver trams will be making a continuous circuit each day of the fair, offering rides to and from vehicles.

"We've had trams for a number of years, but we elected to upgrade to some new ones this year," Poe said. "We just felt like this was the year to upgrade, and our other ones had served their purpose."

Both trams were built locally to the fair's specifications. They each hold 27 people.

Poe expects both trams will keep busy each day of the fair, which runs from Sept. 12 to Sept. 19. About 93,000 people came through the gates last year, and he has reason to expect another sizable crowd this year.

"We're optimistic," he said. "We think that the weather is just going to be beautiful. It's looking like it will cool down some in the next week. And we feel like we've got a good lineup as far as entertainment goes."

Leading the musical lineup is Southern rock band 38 Special on Sept. 14. They will be followed by contemporary Christian band The Newsboys on Sept. 15 and country duo Dan + Shay on Sept. 17.

Breaking up the musical acts will be Heartland Idol on Sept. 16.

The lineup has been shuffled around a bit this year. The Auto Tire and Parts Dual Demolition Derby, one of the fair's most popular events, will be the leading grandstand event, scheduled for Sept. 12.

"With the motorsports, as far as the preparation time and as far as the participants -- and I don't mean the people buying tickets -- there are more people involved than there are in the preparation for a concert," Poe said.

By scheduling the derby for a Saturday instead of a weekday, Poe said the derby drivers and others involved have the whole day to prepare rather than rushing in after work.

Wrapping up the grandstand events will be the DeWitt Auction/D&S Salvage Hot Rod Truck and Tractor Pull on Sept. 18 and 19. The events are among the last opportunities for those from the Illinois Tractor Pulling Association to rack up points, Poe said.

"So they'll be pulling hard for both days," he said.

Free grandstand events will include Heartland Idol, the antique tractor pull Sept. 12 and the Heartland Barrel Racing Extravaganza on Sept. 13.

Other free events can be found outside the grandstand each day by strolling around the fairgrounds. From bingo to karaoke, Poe said there are so many things to do and acts to watch, "you couldn't do it all in a day."

There's Hyper Dogz with Dixie the Magical Horse -- an actual dog and pony show, as Poe said -- as well as juggler and unicyclist Wade Henry. On the first weekend, there also will be the Disney Spectacular, featuring beloved characters such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse and much more. It's a first for the fair, but Poe expects it will be a hit with the younger crowd.

"There will be plenty of photo ops for small fry," he said.

The promotional night Two for Tuesday, where two entry gate admissions, carnival wrist bands and some food items can be purchased for the price of one, will return this year and will be accompanied by a new promotion, Thrifty Thursday. On that day, gate admission is $3 instead of $5.

Keeping with tradition, the fair will begin with the annual parade. Starting at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 12, it will travel from Capaha Park on Broadway to the fairgrounds at 410 Kiwanis Drive. The theme this year is "We Have a Good Thing Growing."

For more information on fair events or to buy tickets, visit semofair.com or call (573) 334-9250.

srinehart@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

410 Kiwanis Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo.